Technology firm Acer has announced a significant strategic shift in its East African operations transitioning from a traditional device sales model to a purpose-driven approach centered on public sector partnerships and digital equity, especially in the education sector.
New Focus: Public Sector and Education Partnerships
Speaking at a recent partner forum in Nairobi, Grigory Nizovsky, Acer’s Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa [EMEA], outlined the company’s new direction. Acer will now focus on direct collaboration with schools, universities, and government agencies in Kenya aligning with the country’s continued investment in education technology and digital learning infrastructure.
“The public sector and education are our top priorities. Wherever digitization is happening, especially in education, we want to be part of the solution,” said Nizovsky. “We’re ready to bring integrated, scalable solutions that go beyond hardware.”
Responding to Kenya’s Digital Literacy Push
This shift reflects both a global realignment and a localized response to Kenya’s push for universal digital literacy. The government’s Digital Literacy Programme [DLP] has already distributed over one million devices to more than 20,000 public schools. However, challenges remain ranging from inadequate infrastructure and teacher training to difficulties in integrating technology into everyday teaching.
“Digital literacy is no longer a luxury, it’s the foundation of economic participation,” said Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi during a recent summit. “We must match hardware deployment with human capital investment.”
Beyond Devices: Training, Financing, and Local Solutions
To address these gaps, Acer plans to go beyond selling devices. The company aims to introduce:
- Teacher training programs.
- Affordable financing models through partnerships with local banks.
- Locally tailored education solutions that meet Kenya’s unique needs.
These efforts are intended to lower access barriers and ensure that technology investments translate into meaningful learning outcomes.
Backing Local Manufacturing and Job Creation
In line with Kenya’s push to strengthen local value chains, Acer is also exploring ways to support local assembly and customization of its devices. This aligns with the government’s special economic zone initiatives aimed at job creation and capacity building.
“We can customize products and support local assembly initiatives,” Nizovsky noted. “This not only reduces cost but creates jobs and builds capacity within the country.”
A Testbed for Scalable EdTech Solutions
With a 9.5% increase in the DLP budget allocation to Ksh 3.2 billion for FY 2025/26, momentum is building. Kenya is becoming a live testbed for scalable, cost-effective edtech interventions. However, education stakeholders have raised concerns over ensuring funds are ring-fenced for classroom impact, rather than being lost in administrative overhead.
Sector experts caution that success will require coordinated action across training, content localization, and infrastructure development. Without it, Kenya risks building digital classrooms that are digital in name only.
“We’re not just here to sell devices,” Nizovsky emphasized. “We’re here to help build resilient, context-specific digital learning ecosystems that reflect the needs of Kenyan learners and educators.”
The success of Acer’s approach will hinge on execution how well it can work with government, educators, and development partners to deliver measurable, scalable impact. If done right, Kenya could emerge as a continental leader in inclusive digital education.
